SANTA ANA — A federal judge ruled that a lesbian student can sue an Orange County school district and her principal for revealing her homosexuality to her mother.

Charlene Nguon, 17, may go forward with her suit claiming violation of privacy rights, U.S. District Judge James V. Selna ruled in a decision dated Nov. 28.

However, the judge dismissed other portions of the suit involving the district, its superintendent and other officials on grounds that the Constitution grants limited immunity from liability to state agencies and officers conducting their duties.

The Garden Grove Unified School District had sought dismissal of the entire suit, which claimed the student’s constitutional rights of privacy, equal protection and freedom of expression were violated.

On the right of privacy, the district argued that Nguon openly kissed and hugged her girlfriend on campus and thus had no expectation of privacy.

Selna ruled that Nguon had “sufficiently alleged that she has a legally protected privacy interest in information about her sexual orientation.”

“This is the first court ruling we’re aware of where a judge has recognized that a student has a right not to have her sexual orientation disclosed to her parents, even if she is out of the closet at school,” said Christine Sun, an ACLU attorney.

.

“Coming out is a very serious decision that should not be taken away from anyone, and disclosure can cause a lot of harm to students who live in an unsupportive home,” Sun said.

Nguon sued after Santiago High School Principal Ben Wolf told her mother about her sexuality last year.

“It’s a really good thing for the case and for other students,” Nguon said of the ruling.

“Our family is really happy that the judge agreed Charlene can continue to stand up for her rights,” her mother, Crystal Chhun, said in a written statement. “The person to decide when and how to talk with our family about this should have been my daughter, not her principal.”

District officials have declined to comment on the suit.

The suit also claims discrimination, contending that Nguon was suspended several times because she ignored orders by Wolf to stop hugging and kissing her girlfriend.